Norway’s Frostad wins Olympic freeski big air gold on final jump

Norway’s Tormod Frostad wins freeski big air gold

LIVIGNO, Italy — Norway’s Tormod Frostad won Olympic gold in the men’s freeski big air final on Tuesday night, sealing the title with a 98.50-point last jump and a two-jump total of 195.50 at the Milano Cortina Games.reuters

American Mac Forehand briefly snatched the lead with a 98.25 on his final attempt, but had to settle for silver on 193.25, while Austria’s Matej Svancer took bronze with 191.25 in a final that turned into a last-run duel under the lights at Livigno Snow Park.apnews

A final decided in the last two drops

With the format requiring athletes to count their best two scores from three attempts — and to do it with two different tricks — the standings were volatile right to the end.fis-ski

Forehand’s closing jump put him on top momentarily at the end of his run order, and USA Today and Vermont Public reported that the American’s near-perfect finish was a nose-butter triple cork 2160. Frostad, dropping after him, answered immediately — landing cleanly for a 98.50 that restored Norway to the top spot.france24

Snow, floodlights and 90-plus scores

Heavy snowfall around Livigno forced organizers and crews into constant course maintenance, and some events earlier Tuesday were pushed back, but the men’s big air final went ahead after a short delay.vermontpublic

The level of skiing matched the spectacle. AFP reported that six of the 12 finalists opened with 90-plus scores in the first round, underscoring how little margin there was for error in the medal fight.france24

Ruud’s defense ends with crashes

Norway’s Birk Ruud, the defending Olympic big air champion, never found his footing in the final, crashing on two of his three attempts and finishing eighth. Ruud had already won slopestyle gold earlier in the Games, but on Tuesday the big air crown moved to his countryman — with Frostad delivering when the contest demanded one more landing.apnews